Condensed version:
So CDPR had an interview recently and answered some of the bigger questions people were asking. Basically they admitted that the reason they didn't say anything about the graphical changes was "You're saying that we should have said 'hey we've changed stuff and now it looks like this.'" They also admitted that the consoles did get in the way for PC development, but the larger market also allowed them to make it as expansive a game as it is by having a larger budget. They also state there is a massive patch coming out that's going to change a lot of things, including graphics and the ability to change .ini files. So I'm happy to see their reaction to the public's complaints, especially the ability to edit .ini files, what do you guys think?
More excuses, there are plenty of very nice PC only games made by small devs, granted they don't necessarilly all make their own engines, but then again I wonder if CDPR necessailly needs to (its probably maybe better than licensing fees), AND they are much larger.
I am also sure that it is possible to either make a PC version and sort of cut it down, or do what they did with the single version for all platforms thing but build it up more for the pc... Either would have been nice. And both I think would still have devs saying 'i don't think we can do this and have it still be on consoles' to some extent, but I FEEL like we wouldhave ended up with something much more polished.
Now they are saying we are going to build it up... But not because they want to provide a good value (an experience which is better than the consoles beyond hardware), but because they are concerned they may not get away with it... Particularly after advertising.
Now i know this is a double post, and I have been focussing on the negatives about this, but what I would like too see would be devs go:
We know there is a market for this, this genre, this type of game. We know that as long as we make a good game, and its priced right, and available in the right formats we are going to sell lots. So we should be able to make some decent money if we do this.
So here is what we are going to do, we are going to focus on creating a great gaming experience, made by the devs, not the marketing department, but we are going to take there valuable insights into consideration, we are going to keep the bottum line in mind too, make sure we are getting value out of everything we do, but we are mainly focusing on creating that gaming experience.
Unfortunately the mentality now seems to be the reverse, that 'we need to make a game, because we need something to sell so we can make uddles of money!', and investing more than the minimum into this product is not conducive towards our goal of making as much money as possible (make one version, tweak the filters and resoloution to run @30fps on all platforms, and then release it). And I feel like in most cases this is wrong, that this is not what made CDPR as successful as they are, and it is not necessarilly the best way for them to run their company...
Again... poorly describing topic name for its content(of link). I've read what was written here (doubt that Jacobite read, since he prefers being the way he is.)
I'll quote important pieces.
"Maybe it was our bad decision to change the rendering system," he mulls, "because the rendering system after VGX was changed." There were two possible rendering systems but one won out because it looked nicer across the whole world, in daytime and at night. The other would have required lots of dynamic lighting "and with such a huge world simply didn't work".
It's a similar story for environments, and their texture sizes and incidental objects. It was a trade-off between keeping that aspect of them or their unique, handmade design. And the team chose the latter. The data-streaming system couldn't handle everything while Geralt galloped around.
The billowing smoke and roaring fire from the trailer? "It's a global system and it will kill PC because transparencies - without DirectX 12 it does't work good in every game." So he killed it for the greater good, and he focused on making sure the 5000 doors in Novigrad worked instead.
Marcin Iwinski picks it up: "Maybe we shouldn't have shown that [trailer], I don't know, but we didn't know that it wasn't going to work, so it's not a lie or a bad will - that's why we didn't comment actively. We don't agree there is a downgrade but it's our opinion, and gamers' feeling can be different. If they made their purchasing decision based on the 2013 materials, I'm deeply sorry for that, and we are discussing how we can make it up to them because that's not fair.
and this is special for Jacobite
Marcin Iwinski adds: "You play it and you are not fine: really, that's touching and we'll do our best to make it up. But if you didn't play it and you're trolling: think twice please.
This is worth watching - its an interview (of sorts) with one of the devs and he explains exactly what choices were made, when they were made and why as far as platform choices and graphics
So they used a different lighting system in the demo and that explanation isn't good enough. The game looks awesome. So what if people can play it on console? Hopefully this topic will finally die when they release the patch for pc. It just seems like pointless crying at this juncture.
Patch 1.3 is already out and it fixes some things. Definitely a visual improvement over the day one patch. Eliminates the need for many of the sweet fx presets that I've seen. The sharpening thing is also pretty nice.
Sad to see them dumb it down for consoles. All the formerly indy (now big) companies do it these days - Doublefine, CD Projekt, etc...
PC gamers deserve a PC exclusive publisher. Let the consoles have their port once it's released.
"You're saying that we should have said 'hey we've changed stuff and now it looks like this."
Yes. Exactly if you had been honest you could reason with people and you would not be in this mess.
You dug this hole now here is a shovel, dig yourself out, but don't expect me to be waiting at the top when you do.
Editing:
It was captured PC footage, not pre-rendered, Badowski confirms, but a lot had to change.
So it was not a cherry picked pre renbered video. So what happened to "We can't downgrade what did not exist"? It clearly did and now that have confirmed as much. And then they are surprised that the PC gamers are annoyed. Add to this the complete silence, the distrust, the downright LIES! How do they deserve a pass.
The billowing smoke and roaring fire from the trailer? "It's a global system and it will kill PC because transparencies - without DirectX 12 it does't work good in every game." So he killed it for the greater good, and he focused on making sure the 5000 doors in Novigrad worked instead.
Well Dirt Showdown has all of that, granted not in an open world but definitely in areas big enough to prove that it is possible. Lazyness is what this is. Lazyness and excuse making.
Yes!" realises Adam Badowski. "The game's performance: people say the game is well optimised. This is the first time for this company!" It's the first smile I've seen from him all interview.
I have yet to hear a single PC player say this game is well optimised. This is more lies upon lies. Is there no end to the lack of sincerity?
so it's not a lie or a bad will - that's why we didn't comment actively
If not then it is incompetence on a scale of amazement.
"It's very important to stress: we are continuously working on the PC version, and we will be adding a lot of stuff, and there is more to come. We've proven it in the past that we support our games and we will be looking at the feedback and trying to make it better."
For many it is too late. It is often said that the Internet never forgets, I hope that is once again proven right.
You play it and you are not fine: really, that's touching and we'll do our best to make it up. But if you didn't play it and you're trolling: think twice please.
Or just maybe standing up against practices that only serve to undermine PC and allow companies to get away with this. Even people who did not play it can clearly see the difference and that is what matters. They deliberately and knowingly changed that game and never once even made an ATTEMPT to rectify the situation.
Whether you bought the game or not, no developer should be able to get away with that. They are just seeing the logical conclusion of their actions. There is no one to blame but themselves. They had numerous chances to if not change the game, then tell people that the footage was unrealistic, put out some of their own screenshots and be honest.
I am not even bothered about the downgrade any more that is in the past and admitted. Now this is about the platform and people that I care about. The hobby I enjoy. And the never ending attempts to destroy it by companies who clearly have no interest in their communities opinions, help or continued support.
This is shameful.
This is wrong.
No amount of patching can reverse the past.
"You really expect us to detail how what we advertised was different from what we were actually selling? Pshhh. Nah."
Introducing the new Four Door Sports car from CDPR coming 2015. It will feature a 300hp V6, leather interior, AC, Sunroof and sound system for Bang & Olfson.
2015: Actually we changed the car mid way through the development. It is actually an eco hatch with a three cylinder engine, fabric interior and a spare tire.
We did not tell you because she honestly did not think you would be mad about this. It has the same name after all, are you not pleased? The name is what you liked in the first place right?
well problem is they've shown something in 2013, but later in 2014 they've shown actual gameplay, and game looked like it looks now(i can argue it looks better, than gameplay demo's they've shown). How did they cheated someone? After releasing few gameplay footage's they opened for pre-order.
As any actual gameplay video we gotten before they've opened for sale was reflecting actual product. This is what people brought...
not vgx trailer.
This is true. But why the silence?
Launch -- sh*t gets crazy at that time; even I myself submitted 7 bugs in first 5hours of gameplay.
Think large...
Dont they not have a PR person or better yet a team? Just some who's job I to say, hey guys here is what is happening currently.
guess not, they're not big... and developers talk directly.
Or don't as the case is.
in the end they did talk with us... took them 2-3 days. and promised to work a lot more on the game.
After they have exhausted any and all good will with me and many others .
well people got very impatient, not their fault. Today companies take much longer to produce official response, and team can't speak until they decide what they want to state.